TODAY, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) officially kicks off its election campaign. Thousands will gather at Kitty Market Square later today to celebrate five years of progress, prosperity and patriotism that have not only reshaped Guyana’s development trajectory but have transformed the country into one of the fastest-growing economies in the hemisphere.

And yet, by some strange defiance of logic, all of that is not enough for the people who are apparently supporting Azruddin Mohamed and telling him they’re going to vote for his newly formed party, “We Invest in Nationhood” (WIN).

Deep down in my soul, I believe the majority of Guyanese will make the right choice on September 1 and they’ll send Azruddin and his cast of political moonlighters back into their corners. I believe that Guyanese, whether in the hinterland or on the coast, are capable of distinguishing between a PPP/C that is genuinely committed to public service and a novice who uses politics as a side-hustle.

The people who know him best, who had cuddled him and played with him as a child, watching him grow up, are telling us in plain and simple language, Azruddin should not be trusted, he has no leadership skills and he’s a narcissist who is dabbling in politics for his own personal interests.

We have heard this message from two of Azruddin’s paternal uncles. One of them, Haseeb Yusuf, is an honourable man, a man of integrity and decency. A leader in the Muslim community for decades, Haseeb has sacrificed his health and his wealth to build the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) into a national organisation, launch a successful seminary on the West Coast of Demerara and establish a full-time Islamic school on East Street. No one in the history of the GIT can equal his contribution to religious literacy in Guyana. When the modern history of Islam and Muslims is written, a chapter will no doubt be dedicated to Haseeb Yusuf.
And for the record, Haseeb is not a religious fanatic, nor is he an extremist. Based solely on appearances, some social media trolls with evil intent have labelled him a “hardcore salafist Muslim” who believes in implementing “strict shariah laws in Guyana.” No, he is not. Wrong person. Like the vast majority of Muslims in Guyana who grow a beard and observe conservative Islamic attire, Haseeb is a man of faith who loves his religion, the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of God be upon him, and the Holy Quran.

It is no light affair that Haseeb has publicly endorsed President Irfaan Ali and distanced himself from his nephew. In his video message, Haseeb declared that Azruddin is unfit to lead. He didn’t curse him. He didn’t reveal inner family secrets; he simply stated his opinion based on empirical observations.

The man I’ve known for most of my life would have measured the cost of stepping forward, guided not by personal ambition but by a quiet commitment to the welfare of all Guyanese. Haseeb’s elder brother and a niece have also stepped forward, urging those swayed by Azruddin’s ego-driven antics to think twice before throwing away their vote. In a Facebook post, Azruddin’s cousin observed that his closest supporters can’t spell or even pronounce his name properly.

That’s neither here nor there, but what is factual is that Azruddin has absolutely no political experience, and he is uneducated, but not stupid. He has enough to import expensive vehicles and is clever enough to avoid paying the required excise taxes. Over the years, he allegedly arranged for large amounts of gold to be smuggled out of Guyana, but was not smart enough to evade the long arm of U.S. enforcement agencies.

And from the vast sums of wealth he has accumulated over the years, Azruddin is required to distribute some portion of it to the poor and needy. And this reveals something even more sinister in the character of Azruddin that the public would be unwise to ignore.

In the Islamic tradition, charity (Zakah or Sadaqah) is a virtue, but more than that, it is an act of worship for Muslims; a cardinal pillar of faith. Muslims who have wealth above a designated amount must distribute a portion of it to, among others, the poor, needy, indigent, those in bondage, or a debtor unable to repay their loan.

In a recent video posted online by Team Mohamed, Azruddin engages in an act that every credible Muslim scholar has condemned as reprehensible: using funds earmarked for charity as a prop to seek fame and buy political loyalty. He has transformed generosity, a sacred act of worship for Muslims, into a spectacle of self-promotion and transactional politics. And it is precisely here, in his gamesmanship and showboating, that Azruddin’s leadership ambition must crumble under the weight of its own debris.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.